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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to appeal the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the track suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.